"C-Chloe?"
The surprise on Flynn's face was unmistakable when he turned and recognized the voice calling from behind him. His heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, he just froze, unsure if he was dreaming or if she had really returned.
Before he could gather his thoughts, Chloe rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him in a warm, urgent hug. "I missed you."
Flynn didn't know how to respond. He hesitated at first, stiff and unsure, but almost instinctively, his arms moved and returned the hug. It was awkward and uncertain—his embrace loose and restrained, as if he were afraid of holding her too tightly or for too long. His chest pressed softly against hers, and his arms trembled ever so slightly as he held her.
While talking with several girls handing him small gifts, Dylan's attention snapped to the girl clinging to Flynn. His brows furrowed, and a strange tightness settled in his chest. Seeing Flynn return the hug only deepened the pang—a sharp, inexplicable jealousy.
After a few moments, Flynn gently released her. "What are you doing here? When did you get back?"
"I just got here last night," Chloe replied, her voice soft yet excited. "It was so boring in the U.S., and I didn't have many friends there. So I decided to spend my Christmas vacation here instead. And…" She paused, her eyes softening. "I wanted to see you. I wanted to be with you."
At that exact moment, Dylan approached.
Flynn noticed how expressionless he looked—silent, unreadable, like a shadow hovering just nearby. "Ah—this is Dylan. My class—"
"His cousin," Dylan interrupted sharply before Flynn could finish. His tone was flat, stopping the explanation before it could go any further. A quiet tension lingered in the way he spoke, making Flynn pause.
"I didn't know you had a cousin, Flynn," Chloe said, tilting her head slightly, genuinely curious.
"Uh… it's a long story," Flynn muttered, feeling awkward, glancing at Dylan without quite knowing why he felt both guilty and conflicted.
Chloe then turned to Dylan, offering him a bright smile. "Dylan, right? I'm Chloe—Flynn's girlfriend."
Her smile was friendly, but Dylan could sense an undercurrent in her words, a weight behind her seemingly casual introduction. He smirked, glancing over at Flynn.
"I didn't know you had a girlfriend," he said, emphasizing the word girlfriend in a sarcastic tone that made the statement sting more than it probably should have.
Flynn opened his mouth, ready to reply, but Chloe cut in before he could speak. She reached out, lightly taking his hand. "Flynn, come with me. Let's walk around campus. It's my first time back here, and there's actually an event happening right now."
Dylan's eyes narrowed slightly, unsure how to react. His mind raced as he watched Chloe gently take hold of Flynn's arm.
"Sorry, Dylan, I just want to spend a little time with my boyfriend," Chloe said softly, her hand warm in Flynn's.
"Uh…," Flynn tried to speak, but before the words could leave his mouth, Chloe gently pulled him away.
Dylan was left standing there, motionless, watching them walk away. His brows slowly knitted together, and his jaw tightened as he bit down on his teeth, saying nothing while a heavy pressure settled in his chest.
A few moments later, Nathan and Jacob appeared, having noticed the scene and overheard snippets of the conversation.
"Wow. I didn't know Flynn had a girlfriend. She's really pretty," Jacob commented, eyes lighting up in curiosity.
Nathan glanced at Dylan, who was still standing there, expressionless, his eyes fixed on Flynn and Chloe as they moved farther down the pathway. 'Are you okay?' he asked softly.
Dylan didn't answer. He remained silent, his face unreadable, almost cold. Nathan gave a reassuring pat on his shoulder. "Give them some space, okay?"
Dylan didn't answer. He simply took a deep breath before turning and walking away. Nathan could do nothing but sigh.
Flynn didn't know where Chloe was taking him, but he let himself be pulled along anyway. He wasn't even sure what he was feeling—only that something inside his chest ached in a way he couldn't explain. It had been so long since he last held Chloe's soft hand that he had almost forgotten how it felt. As his eyes drifted down to their joined hands, he noticed the bracelet on her wrist. It was the same kind of bracelet she had once given him.
Before long, they reached the tree near the track and field. Chloe slowly walked around it, as if tracing an old memory.
"Do you remember the first day we met?" she said. "You were sleeping here all alone back then. It was during our physical activity class, and I had to gather all my courage just to talk to you."
As she spoke, fragments of those memories flashed through Flynn's mind. But unlike before, he felt no desire to dwell on them.
"Chloe, just get to the point," he said quietly. "Why are you here?"
She stopped walking and faced him. "Isn't it obvious? I came back for you."
"For me?" Flynn repeated. "You left without a word, and now you think you can just come back like this?"
"That's why I returned—to fix what I did wrong," Chloe replied. "I know I made a reckless decision back then. I thought studying in the U.S. would make me happy, that everything would be easier there. But it wasn't. I was lonely. I had no friends. No one to talk to."
"But it's not that simple anymore, Chloe," Flynn said. "So many things have changed."
"It's not too late, is it?" she asked softly. "Tell me… you still love me, don't you, Flynn?"
Flynn couldn't answer right away. He didn't know what to say. He knew he had already moved on—or at least, he thought he had. Yet hearing her voice and seeing her again made all the old pain and doubt return, leaving him unsure of what he truly felt.
Before he could respond, Chloe's driver arrived. "Your father is looking for you," the man said politely.
Chloe looked at Flynn one last time. "You don't have to answer me now," she said. "But I know you still love me. I want to see you again tomorrow. You can bring your cousin if you want."
Then, before leaving, she stepped closer and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
"I'll see you again tomorrow," she said, and walked away.
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[A/N
Hi guys, sorry for the late update. I suddenly got really busy with work and didn't have any drafts ready, so I wasn't able to update. I'm really sorry for making you wait. I'll try to start updating again every weekend.